Gatlinburg, TN Gearing Up For the First July 4th Parade in the Nation
Gatlinburg, TN (PRWEB) June 04, 2014 -- The first Independence Day Parade in the Nation marks its 39th year by honoring Military Veterans and other U.S. Military Heroes. The annual Gatlinburg 4th of July Midnight Parade leads off at 12:00AM (midnight) on Friday, July 4, 2014 to the cheers of close to 100,000 spectators lining the streets of the City for this award winning parade.
Retired Army Staff Sergeant Heath Calhoun will be the Grand Marshal riding on the Rocky Top Sports World float. Calhoun is a wounded warrior who competed in the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia. Also featured in the parade will be the 100 Army Military Band and members of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard.
Calhoun served as a Squad Leader for the 101st Airborne Division while deployed in Iraq. He was severely injured when a rocket-propelled grenade hit his Humvee in 2003, resulting in the amputation of both his legs above the knees. During rehabilitation and learning to walk on prosthetics, Calhoun learned about the Wounded Warrior Project. Through that program, he was introduced to adaptive skiing. Since 2008, Calhoun has represented the U.S in the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia and the 2010 Games in Vancouver, Canada.
“It is an honor to have Heath Calhoun as Grand Marshal on the Rocky Top Sports World float,” says city spokesperson, Marci Claude. “He has represented his country from the battlefield to the ski slopes of Sochi. He is truly an American Hero and an inspiration to all who meet him and hear his story.”
The Parade route will extend from traffic light #1A on East Parkway, turn South onto Parkway at traffic light #3, then traveling the length of the downtown street to traffic light #10 at Ski Mountain Road. Claude encourages parade goers to check out the Parade route early to choose your best spot. “Some 100,000 people will attend the Parade and many of those will start placing their folding chairs along the route as early as 7:00AM on July 3rd,” according to Claude.
The festivities continue at Noon on Friday, July 4th with the annual River Raft Regatta, an unmanned floatables race beginning at Christ in the Smokies bridge on River Road and ending at the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies bridge. Registration begins at 10:00AM at Christ in the Smokies. Prizes will be awarded.
Finally at 10:00PM, visitors will enjoy the spectacular Fireworks Show in the heart of Gatlinburg. The best viewing will be the area around traffic lights number 3 and 5. The 100th Army Band will play prior to the fireworks in a free concert at 6:00PM on the Ripley’s Aquarium Plaza.
In addition to the July 4th events, the streets in Gatlinburg are filled with Appalachian music with Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales every night through August 9. Also, the City offers free Parkway Trolley service, spanning the full length of the Parkway, daily through August 16.
Join the Gatlinburg conversation via social media; like us at http://www.facebook.com. For more information about The 39th Annual Gatlinburg 4th of July Midnight Parade and festivities and other summer events, call 1-800-588-1817 or visit our website at http://www.gatlinburg.com.
Marci Claude, Gatlinburg Convention and Visitors Bureau, http://www.gatlinburg.com, +1 (865) 436-0509, [email protected]
Share this article